Today is a beautiful morning, the sky is clear with a few fine clouds, the sun is shining bright but not too hot just warm enough but unlike this beautiful morning, there is a heavy atmosphere in front of Li Manor. Yang Xi Ying was standing in front of the gate, her beautiful face was scrunched up like scrap paper, her long and beautiful eyebrows were tightly knitted, it was obvious that she was in a bad mood.
A luxurious carriage stopped right in front of the front gate with a group of maids coming in a carriage as well as several soldiers guarding the carriage. The word 'Yang' painted right beside the carriage showed the prestige of the people inside the carriage, the onlookers murmured to each other as they pointed their fingers at the carriage with an amazed expression.
The only person who is not impressed by this luxurious carriage is Yang Xi Ying as matter of fact she was quite annoyed instead that someone bothers her great morning.
Immediately a woman got off the carriage, that woman was Yang Xi Ying's mother, Madam Yang and behind her follow two other women. Yang Xi Ying didn't mind her mother visit her especially when she in early pregnancy, but what annoyed her was that her mother brought Yang Qiou Ru's mother, Lin Yu Lan, and her step sibling Yang Qiou Xi, Yang Qiou Ru younger sister. Yang Xi Ying knew that Yang Qiou Ru Mother, concubine Lin might force her mother to visit her Manor, for whatever reason she almost certain that they didn't mean well.
However, Yang Xi Ying cannot reject their arrival without proper reason since they are her family, not only it would give her a bad reputation it also would influence Li Mo Zhen badly, only at times like this Yang Xi Ying wishes she can't act unreasonably like Zhao Li Xin, that man can give a simple reason as 'Meh' when he threw out the guest from his Manor and no one said anything because for Zhao Li Xin standard it was considered to be polite even Lory couldn't say anything about her eccentric husband behavior.
"Xi Ying, you are pregnant, you mustn't stand here in the cold." Madam Yang held her daughter's hand affectionately.
Xi Ying smiled kindly, "I am a cultivator before a woman, this is nothing to me" she replied proudly.
Concubine Lin and her daughter Yang Qiou Xi sneered inwardly. God knows how envious they were of Yang Xi Ying's life not only had her reputation improved tremendously she was also one of the powerful female figures in the Liang Zu kingdom, thanks to her close relationship with Empress Ming and her close friendship with Long Ming. wife not to mention she was the legal wife of the leader of one of the most powerful sects in this land, the Jiu Yun sect.
"Xi Ying, your mother is right, we were all worried about you because you never visited us so we thought we should visit you and see how you are doing," Look how much tonic and medicine we prepare for you, even Master Li treats you well, you should know how to take care of yourself if not something bad could happen then what would you do? just look at how thin your dress is" Concubine Lin ramble on and on, not only she described her as an unfilial daughter who did not return home and made everyone in her family worried about her well-being, she also implies her as an irresponsible woman and a bad mother-to-be.
People who didn't know about Yang Xi Ying, especially a passerby who was only interested in listening to interesting gossip from noble families, would believe any statement coming from concubine Lin, why not? because concubine Lin was part of the Yang family and Yang Xi Ying's mother didn't say anything to reprimand concubine Lin either, she just stood there smiling awkwardly without knowing what to do.
Normally Yang Xi Ying would felt trouble by Concubine Lin's words and hurt by her mother's cowardice but Yang Xi Ying was not the same woman she used to be. She was not just some noble lady but she also a powerful cultivator who had influenced not only as Ming Yue Yin trusted friends she also has support from the mistress of the Hei Shen sect herself, hence she also has the unwavering support of her own husband so what she afraid about after all the society only bullied the weak but afraid with the strong.
Yang Xi Ying has learned as long as you are strong enough and have many strong friends and loyal allies she doesn't need to care about what others say just look at Long Ming, which sane person would dare to rebuke Long Ming directly? But still, Yang Xi Ying would not take the bully lie down.
"Thank you for your concern Consort Lin, but you don't need to worry, I am the madam of the Jiu Yun sect, I have many people taking care of me, not to mention the Hei Shen sect is next door, even the great master Jin Hao has checked my condition and concocted the medicine itself for me, so you don't have to worry about me, besides… do you realize how strong my cultivation level is now?" Yang Xi Ying lifted her chin..
Yang Xi Ying's position as the wife of the Jiu Yun sect master and her close relationship with the Hei Shen sect made the Yang family's worries sound unnecessary and a little forced. Yang Xi Ying was right, she was a strong woman who had strong friends supporting her every step of the way so why should she bother the Yang family, if she did, wouldn't that make her unfilial after all the Yang family had so many daughters. and the daughter-in-law who needed their attention didn't Yang Xi Ying's decision lighten the burden on the Yang family? Everyone thought about concubine Ying's words before sounding arrogant.
Concubine Lin's face turned bright red, Yang Xi Ying's words were like a slap in the face as Yang Xi Ying saw the hypocrisy in her words, it was Yang Qiou Xi who stepped in to save her mother's face.
"Elder sister, forgive my mother, she is not very smart so she offended you, please don't be angry" Yang Qiou Xi lowered her head pitifully, she quickly turned herself into a victim.
Yang Xi Ying snorted in disdain, not only did Yang Qiou Ru and her mother even her sister like to act like White lotus, she wondered if Lin Yu Lan sent all her daughters to some 'white lotus' class or something, why they all played the same cards over and over again, it was so boring.
"Little sister, is there something wrong with your ears, when did I blame your mother? I said her not to worry about me because I am well looked after by my husband and his confidants, why are you acting like I am bullying you here, what is your aim? Yang Xi Ying sarcastically asked.
Yang Qiou Xi suddenly got fl.u.s.tered as people muttered to each other while looking at her suspiciously, Yang Qiou Xi becomes frantic as she was worried about what people would say about her, what would she do if her reputation was ruined?! Yang Qiou Xi bit her lip tightly as she cursed Yang Xi Ying in her heart.
Yang Xi Ying rolled her eyes in annoyance, she could already guess what Qiou Xi was thinking, tired being spectacle Yang Xi Ying decide to let go, "Aren't you all feeling tired, why don't you all come on in…or you think you still not enough playing?" there a warning in her words that make concubine Lin anxious.
"No, no, of course not, Qiou Xi is young and stupid, please don't mind him." Lin Yu Lan quickly calmed down and smiled broadly, after all, she was more m.a.t.u.r.e than the daughter she knew when she had to back off.
Yang Xi Ying looked at them with ridicule then she turned around and left with her mother while Concubine Lin and her daughter had no other way but to follow them from behind including the few maids who had come with them, Yang Xi Ying looked towards the group of maids and frowned, she didn't understand the need to bring so many maids, they were eight, Yang Xi Ying shook her head tiredly aware of the arrogance of the noble family.
A few years ago Yang Xi Ying would think of this as normal things but after she met Lory she got influence by her quite a bit and fond by Lory simplicity and humble behavior even though she was a king daughter, it was something she and Ming Yue Yin admired about Lory very much although Lory herself never knew about this.
Meanwhile, Yang Qiou Xi and Lin Yu Lan were amazed at how spacious and luxurious Yang Xi Ying's residence was, it was almost as big as Yang Manor but one had to realize that Yang Manor was full of people from three generations so it was normal to be big, however, Yang Xi Ying had this giant place all fo herself, not to mention they weren't elders or in-laws that Xi Ying needed to greet every morning, nor did he need to be bothered by her husband's concubines because Li Mo Zhen didn't have one.
One, for Yang Qiou Xi and Lin Yu Lan they couldn't stop envying and cursing Yang Xi Ying good luck marrying a great man like Li Mo Zhen.
They finally arrived at the main hall then quickly the servants prepared snacks and drinks to entertain guests.
"Your house is very beautiful Xi Ying, you are very lucky to live in such a nice place" The madam was genuinely happy for her daughter's good life.
"Brother Li treats me well, mother" Yang Xi Ying replied humbly.
"But, do you feel lonely living in this big place without your family, why don't you let Qiou Xi stay here for a while to accompany you so you won't feel lonely" Lin Yu Lan's eyes flashed with complete greed.
Lin Yu Lan's purpose couldn't be clearer, "My best friend Luo Ri Yi lives next door, every day we spend together, how can I be lonely and brother Li accompany me most of the time so when I feel lonely beside Qiou. Xi's coming age ceremony is coming soon so she better not stay outside her courtyard or people will question her upbringing" Yang Xi Ying declined Concubine Lin's request subtly.
"Xi Ying is right sister," said the gullible Madam Yang. "Isn't Qiou Xi already fourteen, she will be old enough to marry next year, so it's not appropriate for her to stay outside"
"Sister, what do you mean outside, isn't she living with her own sister, how could it be inappropriate?" Lin Yu Lan still insists to let yang Qiou Xi stay at Yang Xi Ying Manor. If Yang Qiou Xi stayed here, she would have reasons to stay here too, then she couldn't avoid the suffocating life as a concubine in the Yang Manor and she also had other plans….
"My husband won't like it" Yang Xi Ying rebuked coldly, this time he didn't try to save concubine Lin face because that person didn't appreciate her efforts "I'm also pregnant so I don't have time to comfort Qiou Xi, it's better for her to stay at home and continue her studies before she gets engaged"
Yang Qiou Xi pouted her lips, obviously, she is not welcome in this Manor, if she can't stay here how can she meet him, and what about her grand plan to live in luxury and worship like an Empress? The most difficult part of this plan was that he had to rely on Yang Xi Ying's willingness to help them but unfortunately their relationship was never closed even they could be said to be enemies since what happened with Gu Lian Fu and Yang Qiou Ru.